Never Forgiving a Slight

"Phew~"

After blowing the bloodstains off the Jade Chill Blade, Gu Sheng walked over to Lang Ge, picked up the scabbard, and sheathed the fine blade. Only then did he approach Teng Yongfan and the others.

As he approached, several clansmen unconsciously retreated a few steps. What had just happened sent a chill through the bones of these simple mountain folk. Was this still the cheerful, sunny, honest, and polite Qinghu they knew?

Gu Sheng paid no mind to the clansmen's gazes. After all, it was impossible to make everyone like what you did.

"Uncle Yongfan!"

Gu Sheng's voice rang out. "That saber manual—the fellow didn't explain where it came from, but its origins probably aren't clean. My suggestion is to rename it before taking it back. Also, don't let the clansmen practice the saber techniques inside. Once they master the Inner Force cultivation method, they should figure out the saber techniques themselves!"

The Nine Cauldrons World's Inner Force manuals differed somewhat from the internal cultivation arts of ordinary martial arts worlds. Though they were still divided into cultivation methods and moves, their weapon restrictions were extremely rigid.

A sword manual was a sword manual, and a saber manual was a saber manual. It was impossible to practice the cultivation method from a sword manual and apply it to saber techniques. If one did so, there was a high chance of suffering cultivation deviation. Just like in the original story, Zhuge Yuanhong had once advised Teng Qingshan to abandon the spear for the sword and study the Guiyuan Sword Canon.

Why hadn't he simply taught Teng Qingshan the cultivation method from the Guiyuan Sword Canon? Because even if he only taught the cultivation method, it would produce sword-path True Essence. If Teng Qingshan continued using a spear, problems would very likely arise. For that very reason, Teng Qingshan in the original story had ultimately chosen the Earth-Grade Secret Codex, the Cold Moon Spear Canon.

"I understand!"

Teng Yongfan nodded, then looked up at Gu Sheng somewhat strangely. He felt that this nephew still had more to say.

"Uncle Yongfan!"

As expected, Gu Sheng continued, "You all heard what those two said just now. That Qin San repays every slight. If he learns that we're fine, he'll very likely come looking for trouble again. So we can't just sit around and wait."

"What do you have in mind?"

Teng Yongfan frowned as well. This time, disaster had truly fallen from the heavens. Killing Li Manor's guards only made matters worse. Yet he did not blame Gu Sheng, because he knew that once that scourge Qin San had come to Teng Village, this calamity had become unavoidable. The only question was how great the losses would be.

"Qingshan and I will return to Yicheng to deal with Qin San's side!"

Gu Sheng looked toward Teng Qingshan. After receiving his agreement, he continued, "Hurry back to Teng Village and have the clansmen prepare to evacuate. If we haven't returned within three days, or if someone comes looking for you—

"Don't hesitate. Run immediately. Run as far as you can, and get as many people away as possible. With an Inner Force manual, Teng Village will recover sooner or later."

Teng Qingshan also urged, "Dad! Don't hesitate. Hurry and leave! Trust us."

"Alright!"

Teng Yongfan nodded and instructed everyone, "Forget the animal hides. Pack up, bring some silver, and leave immediately. Then he looked at Gu Sheng and Teng Qingshan. "Qingshan, Qinghu, remember this: come back alive. If you can't deal with Qin San, that's fine, but you must come back to me."

"Mm~"

Gu Sheng and Teng Qingshan nodded. Each led away Lang Ge's and Er Gouzi's horses and returned to the previous battlefield. A cold breeze swept past, scattering the yellow dust. The heavy stench of blood had already drawn the attention of many wild beasts, and their howls sent chills through the air.

At the battlefield by the fields, Teng Yongfan and the others had already left. Gu Sheng and Teng Qingshan worked together to gather the animal hides left behind by Teng Yongfan's group and load them onto the horses. Then they changed into different clothes and disguised themselves, preparing to reenter the city as hide merchants.

"Cousin, what's your plan? Qin San isn't someone who can be reasoned with."

Teng Qingshan tied a bundle of hides onto a horse's back, then turned to look at Gu Sheng, who was fiddling with bottles and jars.

"There's no need for a plan to deal with Qin San. I'm not so easily taken advantage of!"

Gu Sheng shrugged, looking utterly confident. He truly did not regard Qin San as a threat. The man had dared take Gu's handiwork home and drink it every day—did he really think it was some divine medicine?

Besides, Gu Sheng was also the sort to repay every slight. If no one provoked him, that was one thing. But now that someone had bullied him directly, how could he possibly let them off?

Naturally, he subconsciously ignored the fact that he had secretly poisoned Qin San. After all, Qin San had brought that upon himself. He had been greedy and loved taking advantage, yet had also been blackhearted enough to scheme against others. If he didn't die, who would?

Gu Sheng had long known that Qin San harbored ill intentions. If he had not taken extra precautions and simply allowed events to unfold according to the original story, he might not even know how he died.

In truth, poisoning Qin San had been a helpless measure. If Gu Sheng had been strong enough—if he possessed the cultivation of a First-Rate Expert—why would he need poison? He could have simply dragged the terrified Lang Ge and Er Gouzi to Lord Li's doorstep.

At that point, not only Qin San, but his whole group and even the entire guard corps would have been finished. After all, a servant deceiving his master was a grave taboo, especially when the fraud amounted to nearly twenty thousand taels.

Li Manor paid one hundred and fifty taels for each Jade Chill Blade, for an actual expenditure of twenty-seven thousand three hundred taels. Yet Qin San had only intended to pay eight thousand taels as a deposit. At first, he had even wanted Teng Village to cover those eight thousand taels by invoking Li Manor's name.

What master could possibly trust such a blackhearted servant? Once exposed, Lord Li would definitely investigate all the way through. By then, Qin San's past dirty deeds would be impossible to hide, and he would certainly be finished.

That was getting ahead of things. Gu Sheng's current strength was insufficient, so he naturally could not use that plan. He was only Third-Rate now. Bringing people to Lord Li's door would not only be risky, but also invite humiliation. Lord Li would not even spare him a glance.

That Miss Li might step forward, but if Qin San became desperate and attacked directly, Gu Sheng's thin arms and legs could not stop him at all. He still had enough self-awareness to know that his current strength was far too lacking.

Teng Qingshan said nothing more and silently continued with his work. He had watched his cousin's changes over this period, and they made him feel profoundly unfamiliar. If this world had not lacked legends of mountain spirits and wild monsters possessing people, he would have thought his cousin had been body-snatched.

(Note: Teng Qingshan of The Nine Cauldrons was an international assassin when he was on Blue Star. He did not live in China for most of his life, and the timeline of his death was relatively early, so he knew nothing about transmigrators or Reincarnators.)

Both Gu Sheng and Teng Qingshan were quick and efficient. Before long, they had loaded the hides onto the horses and headed back toward Yicheng. Naturally, Lang Ge's You Province horse had also been disguised somewhat. Using a fine horse worth over a hundred taels to carry goods would have been far too conspicuous.

After paying the entry fee, Gu Sheng and Teng Qingshan drove their horses into Yicheng once more. The moment they entered the city, Teng Qinghu, or rather Gu Sheng, moved about with familiarity.

After all, Teng Qinghu had often accompanied hunters to Yicheng in the past and knew its streets and alleys like the back of his hand. He had even come here before to "learn" about matters between men and women.